Mighty & Modern St. Petersburg & Helsinki Overnight cruise, VISA FREE tour

Tuesday 25th September – Monday 1st October 2018 7 day / 6 night fully escorted tour.

Day 1: Channel Islands to Finland

Jersey clients will meet their Bontour Tour Manager at Jersey Airport (departure 13:50 with British Airways) and Guernsey clients will join with the whole group at Gatwick Airport (depart Guernsey 14.50 with Aurigny). Once you’ve checked-in, you will have plenty of time for duty-free shopping and perhaps an early dinner in the Airport. Your Norwegian flight to Helsinki will depart from Gatwick at 18:45. On arrival to Helsinki Airport at 23:35, you will have a short 30 minute transfer by private coach to the 4* Holiday Inn located in the City Centre.

Day 2: Helsinki & overnight cruise to St.Petersburg After a late breakfast at the hotel, you will be picked up along with your Bontour Tour Manager to start your visit of the vibrant capital of Finland. The day will start with an English guided tour of the seaside city, taking you to the most famous landmarks such as the market square, or Kauppatori, bustling with colourful food stalls and vendors selling food delicacies such as traditional reindeer soup, or the Presidential , still to this day, the of the President of the Republic of Finland. From there, you will have the afternoon at leisure to explore Helsinki further. At the end of the day, you will be picked-up at the hotel and transferred to the Port of Helsinki to check-in for your overnight cruise to St. Petersburg. The cruise offers a varied selection of on-board services and cosy and comfortable cabins. There is also a wide

01534 496687 | bontour.co.uk choice of on-board entertainment such as a casino or a cinema*. You will also have the opportunity to have dinner on the ship where you have a choice of restaurants including American, Italian and local dishes. After dinner, indulge and end the day by experiencing the gentle warmth of the Finnish sauna in the on-board Spa.

*On board services will have to be paid for locally.

Day 3: St-Petersburg & the Tsars

Following breakfast on the ship, you will first set foot on Russian soil and head by coach to the heart of ’s imperial capital. The sheer grandeur and historical heritage of St. Petersburg never fail to amaze. The day will start with a guided tour of the city centre. As you travel, hear how, despite its relatively short, 300-year old history, St. Petersburg has presided over many world- shattering events, including three revolutions and the rise and fall of Tsarist Russia. Included in your tour is a visit of the remarkable Peter and Paul Fortress, St. Petersburg’s oldest building. Enter the complex and discover how it was first built to protect the city in 1703, only to become a notorious prison for political rebels under the Tsars. Housing a cathedral where the Romanovs are buried, a former prison and various exhibitions, this large defensive fortress on Zayachy Island is the kernel from which St Petersburg grew into the city it is today. Be amazed by the panoramic views from atop the fortress walls, at the foot of which lies a sandy riverside beach.

After your first taste of St.Petersburg, you will be coached to your hotel for the next two nights, the 4* Vedensky Hotel, located on Petrogradsky Island, in a quiet and residential area. Enjoy selecting your own restaurant tonight as dinner is not included. There are plenty of restaurants and bars at walking distance from the hotel and the closest metro station is only at a 10 minute walking distance. The Biscotto Café at the Vedensky Hotel serves a harmonious combination of European and Russian cuisine every day until 22:00.

Optional additional Tour 1: “Feel Russian” folk show. Show times 19:00 – 21:00. £179 per person including return transfers.

Be collected from the hotel and whisked away to enjoy this unique opportunity of getting acquainted with the history and traditions of Russia! A classical quartet plays melodies of the XVIII century as two stunning ladies and one charming gent in period costume (ballet trio "Reverence") welcome guests at the Gala Stairs of the Palace. How nice to be a guest of the Grand Duke!

The show consists of two parts (45 minutes each) and lasts for 2 hours including the break, when guests are offered some fresh fruits, canapés with red caviar, ham, Russian style Salami, cheese, vodka, champagne, red wine, mineral water, juice and hot beverages.

Optional additional Tour 2: Traditional Russian Ballet in St. Petersburg: £ 59 per person, transfers not included.

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An opportunity to attend a traditional Ballet performed by Russian dancers. The name of the show and venue will be advised at a later stage. Transport is not provided however taxis can be reserved at the hotel.

Day 4: Peterhof Palace, the Russian Versailles

After a tasty breakfast at the hotel, you will meet with your Tour Manager to embark on a whirlwind tour of the impressive and splendid Peterhof Place, also known as the Russian Versailles. One of St. Petersburg's most famous and popular attractions, the palace and park at Peterhof (also known as Petrodvorets) will blow your mind. After an aborted attempt at , 's desire to build an imperial palace in the suburbs of his new city, Peterhof - which means "Peter's Court" in German - became the site for the Tsar's Monplaisir Palace, and then of the original Grand Palace. The estate was equally popular with Peter's daughter, the Empress Elizabeth, who ordered the expansion of the Grand Palace and greatly extended the park and the famous system of , including the truly spectacular Grand Cascade.

During the fully guided tour, you will visit the Grand Palace. This elegant palace is the centre of the Peterhof estate, boasting regal facades and stunningly ornate interiors and the lower park and the fountains which contain the numerous elegant buildings constructed for Peter the Great along the shores of the .

After the visit, enjoy a ride from the Peterhof back to the business centre of St. Petersburg, in just half-an-hour. Feel the sea breeze and appreciate the beauty of the city suburbs and the Gulf of Finland while admiring the picturesque panoramas.

From here the rest of the day is yours to enjoy at leisure; sightseeing or shopping, it is entirely up to you.

Day 5: The & overnight cruise to Helsinki

Today is your last day in the imperial city and after breakfast, you will start your excursion of another very popular attraction, the State Hermitage Museum. It is one of the World’s largest and most prestigious museums and is a must-see for all first-time travellers to the city. With over 3 million items in its collection, get a brief taste of the riches on offer here, from Impressionist masterpieces to fascinating Oriental treasures. The bulk of the Hermitage collection is housed in the , formerly the official residence of the Romanov Tsars, and its several annexes. However, there are a number of other sites that constitute part of the Hermitage, including the recently opened Storage Facility in the north of St. Petersburg, which offers guided tours through some of the museum's vast stocks. Our guide to visiting the Hermitage will help you find your way around this enormous collection, with a detailed tour of the main site and individual information on each of the affiliated museums.

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After this, say farewell to St. Petersburg and check-in your St. Peter line’s cruise for your overnight back to Helsinki.

Day 6: Day at leisure in Helsinki

After breakfast on-board, you will be transfered back to the 4* Holiday Inn City Centre. Early check-in has been organised for you and you will be able to access your rooms upon arrival. You will be provided with a Hop-On Hop-Off bus pass with which you will have access to the unlimited bus service with a selectively chosen route around the most popular areas in Helsinki. The itinerary includes Helsinki's major attractions including the famous Hietalahti Flea Market or the parliament and shopping areas and more. It’s the perfect opportunity to visit places you might have briefly seen on your first day in the capital.

On the last evening of your tour, enjoy a delicious farewell dinner together at the hotel, the perfect occasion to reflect on the beautiful places seen during your time together.

Day 7: Finland to the Channel Islands It’s an early start with a take-away breakfast from the hotel. You will depart the hotel at early for a flight departure from Helsinki at 08:05 with Norwegian. You will arrive into Gatwick Airport at 09:10. Onward flights from Gatwick depart at 11:50 for Guernsey clients and 12:10 for Jersey clients. For Guernsey clients, your Bontour Tour Manager will leave you at Gatwick Airport.

Activity level The activity level for this tour is easy and we advise you that you should be able to walk up to one hour on guided excursions.

Currency

The currency in Finland is the Euro and the currency in Russia is the Ruble. You will be able to pay in Euros on the cruise.

Dress code

The Dress code on the cruise is smart casual.

Commodore cabins

Please be advised that the Commodore cabins on the Princess Anastasia are all double bedded. Should you require two separate beds, you would need to upgrade to a Deluxe Cabin. A supplement of £ 75 per person applies and the number of Deluxe cabins available is limited.

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